We’ve been seeing a lot of 60% form factor keyboards pop up in the PC gaming sphere. That’s because these tiny boards make a lot of sense for gamers. A smaller keyboard means more space on your desk and more room to swing your mouse. Wireless keyboards add even more versatility. You don’t have to deal with messy cables on your desk and you can easily use them from your couch if you have your gaming rig hooked up to a TV.
Cooler Master has recently released a revamped version of their own wireless 60% keyboard called the SK622. They sent us one so that we could examine it and share our thoughts with you.
Zoom In: Specs
- Color: Silver or Space Gray
- TTC low profile mechanical switches: red/blue/brown
- Ergonomic Keycaps
- RGB backlighting
- Connectivity: USB Type-C/Bluetooth 4.0
- Battery: 4000 mAh
- Price: $99.99
Unboxing & Review Video
Unboxing and Build Quality
The unboxing process for the Cooler Master RK622 is actually pretty nice. The keyboard itself is kept inside a velvet bag within the box, which keeps the keyboard safe and has the added perk of making the whole experience feel more premium. It also comes with the USB Type-C to Type-A cable, instructions, Bluetooth sync guide, and a keycap remover.
The RK622 has a little weight to it, which makes it feel like it’s made of quality materials. There is a white and silver version of this keyboard, but Cooler Master sent us the space gray version. It has matte black keycaps and a brushed aluminum surface with a narrow LED strip that goes all the way around the edge of the keyboard. There are also snap-out feet to adjust the incline and an unmarked switch on the right side that toggles Bluetooth Mode
My one major criticism is the shift key. I was initially excited when I noticed that this 60% keyboard had the arrow keys built into the primary layer of the keyboard. I later realized that this came at the expense of the shift key (which usually takes up roughly three button placements on the right side) being condensed down to the same size as a letter key. This is probably fine if you only plan on using the SK622 for gaming, but it made the keyboard unusable for me when it came to productivity.
Mastering the MasterPlus+ Software
MasterPlus+ is Cooler Master’s all-in-one control software, which can be used with dozens of their products, from cooling systems and cases to peripherals like the SK622. It instantly recognized the 60% keyboard as soon as I plugged it in and created a channel specifically for controlling it. This channel offers five different subchannels for controlling the keyboard.
The “Wireless” channel lets you adjust sleep mode, set LED brightness, and turn the LED ring on or off when the keyboard is in wireless mode. “Lighting” lets you customize specific colors, choose among eighteen different LED lighting modes, and adjust the speed and direction in which these lighting modes travel.
The “Key Mapping,” “Macros,” and “Profiles” subchannels are all pretty self-explanatory, but each of them adds layers of customization control to the SK622 that make this tiny keyboard highly adaptable.
Low Profile TTC Switches Under Impress
Cooler Master mentions on their website that these are a “version 2.0 of our SK600 series keyboards,” and that they have reduced the travel distance and actuation point. This is kind of misleading, though, since their SK621 uses Cherry MX switches and the SK622 uses TTC switches.
These switches are… fine. You can get them in linear reds, tactile browns, or clicky blues. The version they sent us came with the linear reds. There is very little resistance compared to Cherry MX reds and other linear switches I’ve used in the past. Some of you may prefer the looser tension. I’m personally not a fan.
Their keycaps are really nice. The curvature is a big upgrade from the flat keys on the SK621 and they have a comfortable texture to them. The keyboard itself isn’t nearly as “low-profile” as I’d hoped though. You probably won’t want to use it without the adjustable feet or a wrist rest.
Should You SK622 Skidoo?
The Cooler Master SK622 MSRPs at $99.99. That makes it cheaper than the Razer Huntsman Mini, and around the same price as the Anne Pro 2 and the HyperX Alloy Origins 60. The option to use it wirelessly has its advantages and the 4000mAh battery offers some decent longevity, though the Bluetooth is much too slow for gaming. I experienced what I consider to be an unacceptable amount of lag. Most players will probably opt to use it wired for the superior USB Type-C connection whenever possible.
Cooler Master has made some significant improvement over the build quality of their SK621 keyboard, but the switch from Cherry MX to TTC may have been a downgrade.
Zoom Out: Verdict
Summary
Summary: The Cooler Master SK622 is a feature rich 60% mechanical gaming keyboard with excellent control software. It’s USB Type-C connectivity is fast and reliable, though wireless connectivity is too slow for gaming. Build quality and mechanical switches could also be better.
- Quality keycaps
- Arrow keys built in
- Excellent control software
- Tiny right shift key
- Slow to start-up from rest mode
- Bluetooth 4.0 is slow for gaming
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